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St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church 22 photos

Saffron Walden, Essex

St Mary the Virgin's Church

  • Unlocked during daytime
  • 22 photos
  • Stained glass
Directions
Opening
Open during daytime hours – this can vary though, so avoid very early or very late attempts to visit.
Tower
Square tower (west) · Stone · Spire · Crenellated
Photographed
03/08/2003

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Exterior 4 photos

St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Exterior 1: Pevsner certainly had a lot to say about this church, and it is obvious why, as soon as one navigates the streets around Saffron Walden, to be confronted with this beautiful tower and spire. The style of this church is clearly East Anglian (Essex has no defined style of it's own - except the 'borrowed' style). From Pevsner "... one of the most lavishly designed - in a style entirely from across the border, East Anglian, of the Suffolk and even more, the Cambridge brand." Julie poses for us, looking lovely, if rather dwarfed by Saffron Walden's fantastic tower. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Exterior 2 St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Exterior 3: This spire rises to 193 feet. The tower, like the rest of the church, is largely constructed from clunch, and has setback buttresses and decorated battlements. The spire was added in 1831, designed by Rickman & Hutchinson, who were also, at the same time, architects of New Court, St John's College, Cambridge. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Exterior 4

Interior 10 photos

St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 1 St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 2: Looking East towards the Altar. The screen shown here was created by Sir Charles Nicholson, 1924. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 3 St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 4: Looking West, to the Western doorway, giving access to the church through the base of the tower. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 5 St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 6 St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 7 St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 8 St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 9: The arcades each consist of seven bays, and are very tall, with lozenge-shaped piers, which are accentuated by four attached shafts and then hollows and slender connecting mouldings making up the diagonals. The feeling of spaciousness created by the light entering through the clerestory windows in this church is breathtaking. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Interior 10

Stained Glass 6 photos

St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Stained Glass 1: The chancel East window. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Stained Glass 2: Stained glass, south aisle, 1858. From l to r: The Good Shepherd, The Prodigal Son, The Good Samaritan and The Sower. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Stained Glass 3: To the glory of God and in loving memory of Mary, the wife of John Parkinson Atkinson MDJP. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Stained Glass 4: The writing beneath the figures reads: "Give me this water that I thirst not. Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my father." The writing at the bottom reads: "This window was presented by Sarah Elizabeth Harding in memory of her late husband John S Harding". St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Stained Glass 5: East Anglian Saints - Powell. St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Stained Glass 6: North Chapel East Window - Burlison & Grylls, 1904.

Miscellaneous 1 photo

St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Miscellaneous 1

Postcard 1 photo

St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden Church – Postcard 1: Postcard by W. Thompson, Saffron Walden.

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